Concerns over slack wax supply in western Europe

23 October 2013 17:52[Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--Sources in Western Europe on Wednesday raised concerns over the availability of slack paraffin wax.

The market has been tight for several weeks as a result of shutdowns at Shell and Kuwait Petroleum refineries in the Netherlands. One slack wax distributor said today that stocks had mostly been used up.

“Product in the tank is mostly gone now. If the refineries don’t start on time there will probably be a few weeks without product,” it added.

Shell’s Pernis refinery has reportedly restarted and may start producing slack wax again in early November. However, Kuwait Petroleum’s Rotterdam facility will be out of action until December.